Minneapolis, MN – On Oct. 27 a coalition of Minnesota community organizations working to raise awareness about injustices against the Palestinian people protested outside of Senator Al Franken’s campaign office. As Senator Franken prepares for reelection, the anti-war movement condemns Franken’s unconditional support for Israel’s human rights violations, including his introducing legislation to extend U.S. military aid to Israel. Protesters called on Franken’s supporters to express their disapproval of his stance towards Israel.

On July 30, while the bombardment of Gaza was raging, people of conscience held a protest at Franken’s campaign office to urge him to “see Gaza” and end his support for Israel’s attacks. A group of 20 people went into Franken’s campaign office to speak with Franken on the phone and demand that he make a statement calling on Israel to stop the attacks. When his campaign staff refused to put Senator Franken on the phone, the protesters staged a sit-in while reading the names of the hundreds of people who had been killed in Gaza that month in the attacks. At one point the campaign leadership put Senator Franken on the phone to speak to the protesters, at which time he reiterated his support for Israel’s “right to self-defense” and bombing of the Gaza Strip. When asked whether Palestinians had a right to self-defense, Franken had nothing to say. The protesters continued their sit-in in commemoration of those killed, prompting the arrest of 15 people for civil disobedience.

The 15 participants of the sit-in have their first court appearance on Oct. 28 at the Ramsey County Courthouse. The arrestees joined the Oct. 27 protest outside Franken’s campaign headquarters to denounce again Franken’s continued support for Israeli war crimes.

Jennie Eisert, of the Anti-War Committee, spoke to the protest, “As a Colombian I am here and was arrested in there to try and shed some light on what was, has, and still is happening to the Palestinians. I consider many to be brothers and sisters. I know that nothing good comes from the aid of the U.S., it is all for military purposes. The Colombian people, just like the Palestinians, want their freedom and our task in the U.S. is to be in solidarity with them. We need to hold politicians like Franken accountable when they vote to send weapons to repressive governments – whether it be Israel or Colombia – and to say money for human needs and not for war.”

The protest was organized by the Anti-War Committee and endorsed by MN Break the Bonds, the Coalition for Palestinian Rights and the MN Peace Action Coalition.

The next action will be at the last debate between candidates running for Minnesota’s seat for U.S. Senate on Nov. 2 at 6:30 p.m. Fitzgerald Theater, 10 E. Exchange Street in Saint Paul. Anti-war protesters will be there to ask audience members to press candidates on whether they support U.S. aid to Israel.

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St. Paul, MN – More than 300 people demonstrated in front of Senator Al Franken’s campaign office here, July 30, while 15 people were arrested for civil disobedience inside his office. This protest was the ninth demonstration in solidarity with the people of Palestine in recent weeks in Minnesota.

The protest was organized as a part of a national movement to turn up the heat on members of Congress, weapons manufacturers and Zionist organizations that provide the weapons and diplomatic cover for Israel’s war on Gaza.

“More than 1000 Palestinians, many of them children, are dead in Gaza. Senator Franken has a long history of voting for U.S. military aid to Israel and last week he co-sponsored Senate Resolution 498 – that cheers for Israel as it bombs schools, refugee centers and hospitals,” says Meredith Aby-Keirstead of the Twin Cities-based Anti-War Committee.

“Israel receives over $3 billion in U.S. aid every year, which it uses to oppress, detain and kill Palestinians. Our tax dollars are paying for the current massacre in Gaza. We demand Senator Franken oppose any U.S. aid for the occupation of Palestine,” said Sophia Hasen-Day, also of the Anti-War Committee (AWC).

The AWC’s Jess Sundin participated in the civil disobedience action. “Al Franken ignores the concerns of his constituents when he supports Israel’s bombing campaign of Gaza. No person of conscience can defend Israel and U.S. aid to Israel at a time like this. For the last three weeks, thousands of people in the Twin Cities have joined millions across the globe, demanding an end to Israel's criminal attacks on Palestinians and calling for an end to U.S. aid to Israel. Mainstream media, like Franken and the rest of Congress, have ignored us. Enough is enough, no more business as usual. As a mother and activist, I refuse to be ignored; I refuse to let the humanitarian disaster created by Israel to be ignored. Today, people of from Minnesota to Palestine, including the Minnesota congressional delegation, will hear us when we say, ‘Let Gaza live!’”

The protest effectively shut down the Franken for Senate office at 4:30. The staff sent home their interns and canceled their evening youth phone bank.

The staff did get Senator Al Franken on the phone to speak to the protesters. He told them that he disagreed with their “characterization of the conflict.” Protester Anne Keirstead told Senator Franken, “How can you sleep at night knowing that you support Israel bombing children, schools, hospitals, playgrounds, killing children? I can’t sleep at night knowing that my tax dollars are being used to pay for this atrocity. It boggles my mind how you can support this.” Franken hung up on the protesters when he was challenged directly on his misrepresentation of his record. 15 protesters refused to leave his office and were arrested for trespassing. They were all released within an hour of being booked at the Ramsey County Law Enforcement Center.

The July 30 protest at Senator Al Franken’s Campaign Office was organized by the Anti War Committee. The Anti War Committee, along with other peace groups and organizations in the Palestinian community, has mobilized thousands of people in Minnesota over the past three weeks for protests in solidarity with Gaza.

The next protest will be August 1 at 4:30 p.m. at the intersection of Summit and Snelling Avenues in Saint Paul. It will call for freedom for Palestine and justice for Rasmea Odeh. It is being organized jointly by Women Against Military Madness, the Anti-War Committee and the Committee to Stop FBI Repression.

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